Jan 2024, Somers, Vic

At Somers on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula sits a grand old home. Built in 1896 for the Grimwade family it was the crowning glory of their 2000acre cattle stud. Around 1977, the then-owners, the Luxton family, sold the property to the state government after having lobbied for it to become a nature reserve. Since that time 87 acres have been in the care of Parks Victoria and the local volunteer group ‘Friends of Coolart’*.

*Source and for more information refer coolart.org.au

Somers has a special place in my heart for several reasons. As a kid it was the best beach on the Western Port coast of the Mornington Peninsula, it was wide and sandy and facing the ocean. The beach is much smaller now, possibly affected by shipping, but then I’m bigger now too. Decades later, Coolart Homestead became host to wonderful summer Jazz festivals in the gardens and I recall one summer thunderstorm that sent our bunch scurrying with rugs and eskies to the shelter of a large weeping tree. Much later we ran a catering business and I recall the difficulty of serving sweaty hundreds in 40 degree heat. But the one thing that does spring to mind is the ink and wash print of Coolart by Joan Ingpen Bognuda that hung on the walls of at least 2 of our past homes.

Last weekend on a perfect summer’s day, I dropped Woody off for a long walk around the ti-tree sheltered holiday homes of Somers while I had a mosey about the grounds of the Coolart property. The first in a very long time.

Parks Victoria now has a welcoming visitor’s centre and thanks to the rangers and Friends of Coolart volunteers, the Homestead and gardens are looking their finest. The big old house with its prominent tower and views out to the sea. The veranda that looks out across the wetlands and below an auditorium-style bird hide appears to seat around 50 people in comfort. Sorry, I didn’t mean to slam the door.

The eastern side of the property has a large lake, the Tom Luxton Sanctuary and Minsmere bird hide (named after the nature reserve in Suffolk). From where cormorants, ducks, and waterhens, can be spotted. Not having my bird-watching hat on I can’t tell you what others were lurking in the shrubbery.

Dotted about the property are the usual array of brick buildings, stables, garden sheds, and any number of old covered wells. Gee, I do like a good shed. The gardens though are captivating and fringe a spacious lawn area (sans jazz band). There are specimen trees, arbours, ponds, and a vegetable garden that I would love to poke about in. With plenty of shady seats and a BBQ area, there were plenty of families picnicking and dozing. It truly is the perfect spot for a picnic and a cold chardy.

Sadly, I didn’t get a look inside as the Homestead was closed for renovations. I didn’t have enough time to take the walks through the wetlands either as Woody had walked himself footsore and was in need of a refreshing ale.

Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Reserve is just 85kms south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula.

**I’m sure we once knew someone who used to brew happy tea from those Angel’s Trumpets. Bloody hell, she’s not still under the Weeping Wych is she?